Flora Bora Forest Lodging at Emma Lake has proven to be an attractive destination during the COVID-19 pandemic. The accommodations are nearly booked solid to the end of October. (Flora Bora/Facebook)

By Trevor Redden

Extended Summer

Local tourism destinations anticipate extended season

Aug 28, 2020 | 12:00 PM

Although we’ve reached the end of August, it appears vacation season is showing no sign of slowing down in the region.

The COVID-19 pandemic ground life as we know it to a halt in March, and even once the province started to re-open, travel options were severely limited. As a result, local vacation destinations have been the beneficiaries, and that will continue into the fall.

Gord Bueckert, vice president of the Waskesiu Chamber of Commerce and owner of Lost Creek Resorts in the Prince Albert National Park (PANP), doesn’t see things slowing down anytime soon.

“We’re seeing that visitation and business was very busy through July and August, and September is continuing in that trend, and October is also showing good signs for a busy fall,” Bueckert said.

Although students have already had an extended summer with schools closing in the spring, they’ll get an extra week of summer holiday in September as part of the province’s plan to re-open schools. This may give families a little more time to enjoy summer together.

Court proceedings

Psych assessment to be ordered for man accused of killing his mother

14h ago

PA to the Pros

Former Raider Nolan Allan makes NHL debut with Chicago

14h ago

Tuesday Tilt

Mintos fall to Blazers as special teams struggle

17h ago

“September long weekend, we’ve been booked up for some time. School not going in until a little later may have helped that, but we’re seeing September fill up quite nicely,” Bueckert noted.

He said the park has been full of Saskatchewan residents who wanted to get away without having to sit on an airplane. Although PANP was closed from March through May, he anticipates that businesses in the region will end up having a strong 2020 thanks to a busy and extended summer.

Closer to Prince Albert, Karen Wasylyk is the owner of Flora Bora Forest Lodging at Emma Lake. Her secluded yurts have proven to be a highly sought-after destination this year.

“It’s been busier than past years for sure. It’s just that people are staying closer to home but they’re also wanting to get out of their houses and get into nature. They’re going stir-crazy at home, and they can still isolate up here but have different scenery,” Wasylyk said.

In Waskesiu, Wasylyk said her guests have all come from Saskatchewan, with the vast majority making the trip from Regina or Saskatoon for a unique northern getaway.

As fall approaches, her business isn’t slowing down with all accommodations booked solid to the middle of October. Flora Bora will close for the year at the end of October, and she said there are only a few dates in the last two weeks of the month that remain available.

Looking further ahead, Wasylyk said bookings are already starting to come in for 2021 as guests are wanting to secure their stay.

–

trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden